monte. "She makes excuses when we are the ones to blame."
Then the conversation became general, and Mariana's merry laugh resounded above all the rest. Simon had not known that she was his wife's friend, and the appearance of the millionaire's niece seemd to freeze the blood in his veins; but he overcame his feelings, though he avoided meeting Mariana's eye. Suddenly Señor Albamonte exclaimed:
"My dear Simon, I must present you to this young lady as a member of our family. My son-in-law, Mariana."
Simon trembled from head to foot; the fork fell from his hand, while he made a deep bow. Mariana returned his salutation, but could not repress a peal of laughter.
The dinner passed off very gayly, until a lady happened to whisper something into her neighbor's ear very mysteriously.
"What is the matter?" inquired Señor Albamonte. "No secrets are allowable here, so I insist on knowing what it is and having my share in the fun."
"We were only talking about a superstitious notion," replied the lady.
"Very well, it comes just in time. Let us hear what it is."
"It is all nonsense," exclaimed the other lady. "I am sure it is, though there are people who believe in such things. However, I don't think that they ought to interfere with our appetites or gayety."
Her words only piqued their curiosity still more.
